Andrei Suzdaltsev: Lukashenka visited Sochi to ask for money

Moscow knows that the Belarusian dictator is interested only in money at his meetings with Putin.

Russian politologist Andrei Suzdaltsev talked to charter97.org about the might-have-been meeting of Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Vladimir Putin in Sochi.

“The Russian leadership understands all that interests Belarusian ruler at his meetings with Putin is money,” the politologist said.

“If Minsk is interested in getting another loan, Moscow, for its part, is concerned how Belarus fulfils its obligations taken after joining the Customs Union and the EurAsEC. Belarus received advances, such as low oil prices, access to Russia's domestic markets and lifting restrictions on supplies,” Andrei Suzdaltsev noted.

The expert added that Belarus tries to impose half-Soviet conditions in the EurAsEC by raising customs duties on some goods.

“Belarus's joining the Customs Union opened the western border, which became Russia's smuggling channel. Belarus uses the Russian market trying to keep its dying industry afloat. Putin will continue promoting the 'brotherly state' in this direction, because it is a part of Putin's current strategy,” Andrei Suzdaltsev is confident.

It should be reminded that Alyaksandr Lukashenka returned from Sochi on February 19 having failed to meet with Putin.